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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347295
Research Project: Systems Approach for Managing Emerging Insect Pests and Insect-Transmitted Pathogens of Potatoes

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Pinpointing the weed source of potato psyllids arriving in Pacific Northwest potatoes

Author
item THINAKARAN, JENITA - University Of Idaho
item Horton, David
item Cooper, William - Rodney
item KARASEV, ALEX - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Potato Grower
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2017
Publication Date: 11/29/2017
Citation: Thinakaran, J., Horton, D.R., Cooper, W.R., Karasev, A. 2017. Pinpointing the weed source of potato psyllids arriving in Pacific Northwest potatoes. Potato Grower. December 2017:44-45.

Interpretive Summary: Potato psyllid is a key pest of potato in the Pacific Northwest, and the vector of the pathogen that causes zebra chip disease of potato. Researchers at the USDA-ARS in Wapato, WA and the University of Idaho review research related to matrimony vine, a year-round host of potato psyllid. Matrimony vine has two seasonal intervals in which new foliar growth occurs (spring and autumn) separated by a period of summer dormancy. Potato psyllids can build to high population densities during the spring and autumn, but are mostly absent from this host during the summer leaf drop period. The disappearance of psyllids from matrimony vine seems to occur at the same time that psyllids begin arriving in potato fields, leading researchers to suspect that summer defoliation of matrimony vine prompts potato psyllid to migrate to potato. Psyllid numbers on matrimony vine in May and June appear to predict numbers that will show up on potato during July and August based upon data collected from matrimony vine and potatoes for the growing seasons of 2014 to 2017. Ongoing research will confirm whether matrimony vine can be used by growers as an early warning system to predict the risk of potato psyllids colonizing potato fields.

Technical Abstract: Potato psyllid is a key pest of potato in the Pacific Northwest, and the vector of the pathogen that causes zebra chip disease of potato. Researchers at the USDA-ARS in Wapato, WA and the University of Idaho review research related to matrimony vine, a year-round host of potato psyllid. Matrimony vine has two seasonal intervals in which new foliar growth occurs (spring and autumn) separated by a period of summer dormancy. Potato psyllids can build to high population densities during the spring and autumn, but are mostly absent from this host during the summer leaf drop period. The disappearance of psyllids from matrimony vine seems to occur at the same time that psyllids begin arriving in potato fields, leading researchers to suspect that summer defoliation of matrimony vine prompts potato psyllid to migrate to potato. Psyllid numbers on matrimony vine in May and June appear to predict numbers that will show up on potato during July and August based upon data collected from matrimony vine and potatoes for the growing seasons of 2014 to 2017. Ongoing research will confirm whether matrimony vine can be used by growers as an early warning system to predict the risk of potato psyllids colonizing potato fields.